Any Dodd 120 owners still around?

carusoracer · « **on:** 6 Jan 2011, 05:53 pm »

I have emailed a couple ex owners and current owners. I'm interested to know who still has the Dodd 120's and which version, what changes have you made and what is the current configuration?

I know that they were introduced in mid 2000 and people have moved on or upgraded. I'm looking to correspond with past and current owners.

I picked up my pre owned pair from AC buddy BigRedMachine and have been more impressed with every change. I believe mine are 1st version revisions, as they have the two separate covers on the amp, two switches on the front for power and standby/operate, chrome faceplate, and seem to be slimmer in height than the latest version pictured on the Dodd Audio website.

I have been experimenting with tube compliment, PC, Isolation. I now want to move on towards diodes, coupling caps, bypass caps, and resistors.

Open thread so please feel free to make any comments or suggestions. I'm looking to make some very minor changes to an already, IMHO a great pair of Amps. Call me a little late to the party

I did not act when they were intially offered.

Cheers

TomS · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 05:56 pm »

Quote from: carusoracer on 6 Jan 2011, 05:53 pm

I have emailed a couple ex owners and current owners. I'm interested to know who still has the Dodd 120's and which version, what changes have you made and what is the current configuration?

I know that they were introduced in mid 2000 and people have moved on or upgraded. I'm looking to correspond with past and current owners.

I picked up my pre owned pair from AC buddy BigRedMachine and have been more impressed with every change. I believe mine are 1st version revisions, as they have the two separate covers on the amp, two switches on the front for power and standby/operate, chrome faceplate, and seem to be slimmer in height than the latest version pictured on the Dodd Audio website.

I have been experimenting with tube compliment, PC, Isolation. I now want to move on towards diodes, coupling caps, bypass caps, and resistors.

Open thread so please feel free to make any comments or suggestions. I'm looking to make some very minor changes to an already, IMHO a great pair of Amps. Call me a little late to the party I did not act when they were intially offered.

Cheers

You might ping Eric Hider @Db Audio. After GLD he knows these inside and out. Very busy guy though for sure.

jtwrace · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 06:00 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 6 Jan 2011, 05:56 pm

After GLD he knows these inside and out.

How is that?

TomS · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 07:07 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 6 Jan 2011, 06:00 pm

How is that?

He had a pair as well as battery preamp and apparently did a lot of the tweaking and suggestions with tubes, caps, etc. I heard them at his place with the Sasons and they were a very nice combo. As usual tweaked to the max...

prokennex · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Jan 2011, 11:34 pm »

I still have my 120's from the group sale, way back when. They are the second version not the latest offerings.

The tungsols 5687's are my favorite driver tubes. I found the GE 7044's to have a bit more extension on both ends but it was a bit much for me. Even one 7044 in the spliter position was a tad much. I just like those tungsols for the drivers.

Haven't tried changing the output tubes still using the JJ's. I would be interested in hearing thougts on how the other el34 tube brands sound compared to the JJ's with the Dodd.

Powercords are Virtual Dynamics nites. Very quiet cords, slightly on the dark side and very smooth. Nice to know how other pcs sound with the 120's

Speakers are martin logan sl3, speaker cable zcable passion bi wired.

Source is a cheap sony player modified by sacd mods with a zapfilter anologue stage. Preamp is a Dodd battery preamp not the buffer. The preamp is a perfect match for the 120's. It adds an even more quietness and good separation of instruments within the stage without being graining or harsh.

Interconnects are KCI silkworms from player to pre and zcable 3 from pre to amps.

Overall, I find the Dodds very neutral with just a tad touch of tube lush for lack of a better word.

I would like to experiment with some different output tubes and maybe different power cords but I would really like to upgrade my source as I think this is where I would get the biggest change.

Love to hear from others, there must others around.

Tks Ray

bluemike · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 02:20 am »

Hi Carusoracer
I stil have the dodds ..and you know what changes i've made to them
imo They are good amps that get better with each tweak
Btw the coupling caps are .22 not .47 as per Gary

They are sounding mighty fine paired with my Sasons

HT cOz · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 04:24 am »

Here is a pic for those wondering what these guys are talking about

TrungT · « **Reply #7 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 05:03 am »

^^^^^
WOW

carusoracer · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 05:57 pm »

Prokennex (Ray),

If at all possible take a good hard look at changing the Output tubes. My Amp came with the JJ's, and Re Issue Gold Lions. I listened for perhaps one 1/2 of an afternoon with the JJ's. Nice sound and certainly good value for the price with a good reputation as being reliable.
The Gold Lions were , IMHO much better sounding, these are KT77's though. Herbies Halo were included and I found needed to help eliminate some sibilance. More on that later... Very nice full midrange and deeper bass with a much more engaging sound. Voices and instruments had better decay and much better tone qualities.
I then switched to the Shuguang 6CA7 Treasure series

as I had one quad I was running in my Jolida 302b. The burn in is long out of the box but once they hit 200 hrs, very good. 400 hrs really good. 500+ hours Smokin

These tube have taken the Dodd 120's, IMHO, to a whole new level. I highly recommend them as they do not tilt the sonic spectrum in any direction or highlight any frequency. They just play music!

I did change the driver tubes around several times and I'm running two 63' 7119 Amperex PQ's in the top position with the Tungsol's. I'm still trying to lock down which vintage Tungsol I have. This eliminated the sibilance and gave me a very nice full midrange and took the edge off the top end of the tungsols'. I have been tempted to go all the way with the 7119's but it is really sounding good now.
I'm also using Kaplan original version copper power cords or Black Sand MKV's

BlueMike and I agree that the magic sweetspot on the bias dial is 62ma. This really dials in the sound as 70ma is too aggressive and 60ma is just too light in the lower register. That change I found to be most beneficial to get the best sound out of any tube compliment I have tried.

I'm also looking to change the diodes and the resistors as BlueMike has done.

BTW, are you a Tennis or Racquetball Pro? Hence Pro Kennex?

carusoracer · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 05:58 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 6 Jan 2011, 07:07 pm

He had a pair as well as battery preamp and apparently did a lot of the tweaking and suggestions with tubes, caps, etc. I heard them at his place with the Sasons and they were a very nice combo. As usual tweaked to the max...

Thanks, I will contact him!

carusoracer · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Jan 2011, 05:59 pm »

Quote from: bluemike on 7 Jan 2011, 02:20 am

Hi Carusoracer
I stil have the dodds ..and you know what changes i've made to them
imo They are good amps that get better with each tweak
Btw the coupling caps are .22 not .47 as per Gary

They are sounding mighty fine paired with my Sasons

.22 much better than .47 $$$wise

prokennex · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Jan 2011, 07:38 pm »

I read alot about the 6CA7 treasures. All the reports seem to be very favorable and I was wondering how they might sound in the Dodds. Nice to hear from someone that is actually using them in the Dodds. Never tried the amperex but I should put it on my list. Maybe I should hold off on the front end since digital changes so rapidly and splurge for some treasures.

Don't know to much about the bias. I always thought it should be kept at 70. Does it change according to the tubes being used or is the change a preference for a slight alteration in sonics.

Prokennex was the tennis racquet I used years ago. Now I use Babolat. Certainly not a pro, just another hobby that takes my money and keeps me injured lol.

Could you keep me informed of other info regarding the Dodds as I plan on keeping them a long time.

I appreciate the information.
Tks
Ray

bluemike · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Jan 2011, 04:15 am »

a different look of the dodds in shiny chrome .. right monoblock

carusoracer · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 Jan 2011, 03:47 pm »

Quote from: prokennex on 8 Jan 2011, 07:38 pm

I read alot about the 6CA7 treasures. All the reports seem to be very favorable and I was wondering how they might sound in the Dodds. Nice to hear from someone that is actually using them in the Dodds. Never tried the amperex but I should put it on my list. Maybe I should hold off on the front end since digital changes so rapidly and splurge for some treasures.

Don't know to much about the bias. I always thought it should be kept at 70. Does it change according to the tubes being used or is the change a preference for a slight alteration in sonics.

Prokennex was the tennis racquet I used years ago. Now I use Babolat. Certainly not a pro, just another hobby that takes my money and keeps me injured lol.

Could you keep me informed of other info regarding the Dodds as I plan on keeping them a long time.

I appreciate the information.
Tks
Ray

Ray,

Try experimenting with the bias setting around 62ma. I think it helps not only sonically but obviously helps if you change tube. I find that it does make a difference and is not pushing the tube as hard. The Treasure's will make it seem like you just got an Amp upgrade

carusoracer · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 Jan 2011, 03:48 pm »

Quote from: bluemike on 9 Jan 2011, 04:15 am

a different look of the dodds in shiny chrome .. right monoblock

Nice finish! You should take a picture of them at night with the tube glow reflections.

prokennex · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Jan 2011, 12:56 am »

Carusoracer

Well I'll have to save my pennies and order some treasures. It's difficult sometimes not hearing the equipment first hand but maybe you felt that way yourself before you got the treasures.

It will take a few months to raise some funds but hopefully it will be worth it. I'll let you know when I have them.

By the way those chrome Dodds look amazing Bluemike.

Ray

dangerbird · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Jan 2011, 01:30 am »

bluemike-- some drop dead goregeous amps sir.

bluemike · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 May 2012, 09:57 pm »

Quote from: dangerbird on 12 Jan 2011, 01:30 am

bluemike-- some drop dead goregeous amps sir.

So sorry for the late reply

With a few cap changes these things are really sounding good
They have always looked good

Jerrin · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 May 2012, 12:11 am »

Gary is working on a new design for a pair for me right now. 200 watts each.

I went with Duelund Black caps, PKP resistors, and I've narrowed my tube choices to either the Treasure KT88 or the Fuller KT88.

I've read that the fullers are slightly better than the treasures, but there is a significant difference in price. Especially for eight.

morganc · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 May 2012, 05:07 am »

I and several others that I know prefer the JJ's to the Black Treasures.

Having said that, that was in a different amp.